Calling on all mentors By Lt Col. Chris Houseworth, 108th Contingency Response Group Commander

Transcription

1 February 2015

2 Calling on all mentors By Lt Col. Chris Houseworth, 108th Contingency Response Group Commander What is a Mentor? The dictionary defines a mentor as somebody, usually older and more experienced, who advises and guides a younger, less experienced person. However, the one thing the dictionary doesn t mention is the motive behind a mentor. In my opinion, a good mentor sincerely cares about the person he/she is advising. Mentoring is perhaps the most powerful method by which we can shape the future. A good mentor must have the patience, experience and good social skills to guide individuals to pursue their goals for success. Mentorship embodies the Air Force core values, like that of a compass, which guides one along the path of his or her career. To be a mentor, as with any position in leadership, you must exhibit the upmost integrity first. Become a role model that can inspire and establish trust within the organization. Achieve this status and your members will follow you and feel more comfortable to express their ideas and aspirations. We need to be honest with our people and point out the good and the bad in order for that person to truly move forward and achieve his or her goals. The mentor who can inspire someone, can and will have a profound effect on that person which will last a lifetime. A mentor understands service before self and goes beyond their own needs to help others and provide direction based on their own life lessons and experiences. Mentors must have the passion to help others succeed where they may have failed. Mentors are a valuable tool that will save time, money and are a key ingredient to help our individuals effectively pursue their goals for success. A mentor helps others achieve excellence in all they do. Mentors help individuals achieve excellence in their own life and career, which in turn helps the organization as a whole. Mentors provide a framework to bring about a cultural change in the way we view the professional development of competent future leaders. As mentors, we need to be engaged at all times coaching, guiding and leading the charge to leave this organization better than how we found it. A mentor to me is someone who truly cares about you and your life goals. They are willing to pass along advice and experience to assist others in achieving success. There is no better way to succeed than to learn from those that have gone before you. Passing along life s lessons allows you to move forward in a positive manner without making the same mistake. Here at the 108th Wing, we are going through a cyclical transition where many of the older experienced members are retiring and moving on in life. I would like to challenge both fulltime and parttime Guardsmen and Guardswomen who are approaching retirement to pass along your career story to those just entering the unit. Create a forum with the new members of your section or group and open up a question and answer session for individuals to learn from you and your career. Pass along the good and the bad you have experienced over the years and help guide new members to realize their goals. Some of the new members to our family here at the Wing may not even know what to ask. It is up to us to help set a career path for them to someday become that senior non-commissioned officer or officer that will continue to make this the greatest Wing in the Guard. To the Supervisors out there, don t just wear the rank and title of a leader, be a leader first. Earn the respect of those who follow you. Take an interest in your people and their goals. Communicate with your people constantly and give constructive feedback to help them achieve their goals. Show them the resources we have here at the Wing that are available to them to pursue a career in almost any field they choose. Find the next leader who will replace you and help guide them to success. I enjoy talking with all members of the Wing. I try and ask as many questions as I can to those that want to listen. I want to know: What do you want to do with your career in the Guard? Are you looking for fulltime or a traditional career path? Do they have any desire to become an officer one day? And what career path do they want to pursue? After I gather this information, I try and point them in the right direction. I try to map out a course for them to follow so they can attain their goals. We need to pass this knowledge along in order to keep the New Jersey National Guard strong. We need to identify those that display the potential to be the next leader and let them know that we are here for them. For those of us lucky enough to have had great mentors throughout our careers, now it is our turn. Do you have the passion to become a mentor? Do you have it within you to inspire someone, to help them achieve their fullest potential? Become a mentor today and help inspire the next generation of leaders in the 108th Wing! Together we can shape the future and keep the Guard and the 108th Wing strong! We need to leave this organization better than we found it!

3 Meet the Millers Story and photos by Master Sgt. Mark Olsen, 108th Wing Public Affairs Senior Airman Keith Miller, right, describes to Staff Sgt. Danielle Miller what broke on the starter for a six-passenger pickup truck at the 108th Wing Vehicle Maintenance Shop at Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, N.J., Jan. 11, Staff Sgt. Danielle Miller, enters a work order at the 108th Wing Vehicle Management Section, New Jersey Air National Guard, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Jan. 10, Senior Airman Keith Miller, replaces a starter on a six-passenger pickup truck at the 108th Wing Vehicle Maintenance Shop, New Jersey Air National Guard, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Jan. 11, The Guard is family. Case in point: Danielle Bunyea and Keith Miller first met at Port Hueneme, Calif., Danielle was from Washington and Keith was from New Jersey. We were both at the same tech school in 2008, said Senior Airman Keith Miller. Danielle was training to become a vehicle management and analysis technician - Keith was attending the vehicle maintenance school. Danielle s school was six weeks, while Keith s was eight months. They became friends. And it might have ended there, except their initial assignment placed them both at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. The friendship continued. Vehicle Maintenance is divided into two or three sections, depending on the size of the base. At Malmstrom, Danielle worked in the vehicle management section, which managed the fleet of military and commercial design vehicles and heavy equipment, while Keith worked in the vehicle maintenance shop. I worked on Humvees and MRAPs (mine-resistant, ambushprotected vehicles), said Keith. Danielle handled the administrative and parts ordering. Being on active duty also meant that they deployed a lot. Between the two of us, we have spent years a part due to deployments, said Staff Sgt. Danielle Miller. Keith might be on a seven-month deployment and I would be on seven month deployment, but our time together might only be a month between deployments. That time apart strengthened their relationship. A change in the Malmstrom leadership got them thinking about new options. Danielle wanted to go to school to get her degree in nursing and with all her deployments, she had the Post- 9/11 GI Bill to pay the way. This led them to think about joining the Guard. Our whole goal was to stay together in the Guard, said Keith. After we decided to join the Guard it was either Washington or New Jersey, said Danielle. He has a large family back here and I could go to school anywhere, so we decided on New Jersey. Danielle arrived at the 108th Wing in September 2013 while Keith went on terminal leave and didn t join the unit until November. Both work in the 108th Wing Vehicle Maintenance and both have the same jobs they had at Malmstrom. They got married. Being in the same shop has a lot of pluses. When you discuss military aspects of the job, you don t have to explain everything because we work in the same shop, said Danielle. Another is training and deployments. We have to do all our training together, said Danielle. Here in the Guard we can volunteer for the same deployments. As a family, in the Guard.

4 NJ National Guard chaplains, assistants train for trauma Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Julia Pyun, 108th Wing Public Affairs Chaplains, left to right, Army Lt. Col. Wilfredo Santiago, Air Force Lt. Col. Yaakov Bindell and Army Capt. Joshua Cox, from the Army Support Activity Fort Dix, the 108th Wing and the 72nd Field Artillery Brigade respectively, discuss their list of things for the lesson during the Traumatic Event Management Course Jan. 14, 2015, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- In our field, we re given a lot of training on counseling and pastoral skills, said Capt. David Kahler, a 108th Wing chaplain. This training was specific to taking care of our Airmen. It helped me to look back on some traumatic events that have happened over my time as a chaplain. Going forward, I have the tools now where I can create better traumatic event management plans for whoever I might be serving under. From Jan. 12 to Jan. 16, Kahler and other chaplains and chaplain assistants, both Air Force and Army from all over New Jersey, Word spreads. Other folks will talk about this training and say, Hey this was excellent because it prepares us for crisis management Van Wilson, TEM course training specialist participated in the Army s Traumatic Event Management course held here at the Joint Force Headquarters building. The TEM course has been around for four and half years and was created by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in San Antonio. The facility researched and gathered data to create a model for managing crisis situations. The goal is to enhance unit cohesion and effectiveness, said Val Wilson, a training specialist for the TEM course. Feedback received said it was extremely beneficial, when bad things happened, individuals who took the course had a plan and knew what was going on with the military members. Annually, the class holds six resident training courses in San Antonio and four scheduled mobile trainings to places such as Germany, Hawaii and Korea. They will go to units who have requested for the course, but not all units know about it. Word spreads. Other folks will talk about this training and say, Hey this was excellent because it prepares us for crisis management, said Wilson. The National Guard is always called upon to respond to natural disasters. This training fits that requirement for them. Lt. Col. Yaakov Bindell, the 108th Wing chaplain and the state support chaplain, was the one to coordinate this training session. He contacted all the units in New Jersey and notified them of this training. From there, anyone available and motivated showed up

5 Air Force Staff Sgt. Jennifer Robledo, a future chaplain assistant from the 108th Wing, left, Army Pfc. Mahalia Reevey, a chaplain s assistant from the 117th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, center left, Army 1st Lt. Joseph Del Valle, a chaplain from the 102nd Cavalry Regimnet, and Curtis Collins, a training specialist for the Traumatic Event Management course, are waiting to start the scenario discussion during the Traumatic Event Management Course Jan. 16, 2015, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. on the first day. The class had 24 members who were separated into four groups. We do a lot of small group work, said Michael J. Hagan, another training specialist. The focus is applying their knowledge to our program versus us teaching them something brand new. We try not to do a lot of lecture. The groups had many assignments involving discussions to come up with plans or solutions. A lot of emphasis was put on being active and preparing for the unknown. Start training for trauma before it happens not waiting until it happens and trying to figure out what to do then, said Hagan. The more preparation you have beforehand, the easier it is to manage and go through the trauma when it does happen. Each member had the opportunity to voice their opinion and input their experience. Role playing was the key way to incorporate hands on learning. Immediate feedback between classmates reinforced the ideas discussed during the week. I enjoyed the group work, especially the role-playing, said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Robledo, a 108th Wing chaplain assistant. My absolute favorite part was when we got to come together as a group and teach the class. It was so much fun. Each group was given a different assignment from sleep hygiene class to stress management, said Hagan, another training specialist. They ll take these general topics and have an hour to put together a 12 minute presentation. Not just briefing someone, but really training them. At the end of the week, the training proved to be very beneficial. This woke up the importance of really knowing your resources, said Robledo. You ll never know when you might need to pull them out for someone or even yourself. Something so simple can make the greatest difference. I feel confident that if there was an event to happen, we ll be able to respond. We challenged them from day one, said Wilson. This group got really involved, the training has been excellent. The 108th Chaplain Corps is addressing the need for Christian practice of faith in a time period and location conducive to more Wing members. "Down the Hall" is a 15-minute devotion time for Christians wanting to practice their faith but do not have the ability to break away from mission to attend the longer 30 minute Protestant worship service held at the Wing Conference Room on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. Down The Hall will meet starting in February 2015's drill in the XP Room in the 108th Operations Group s building on Saturdays of drill from 12:35-12:50 p.m. It will give people wanting to do so, the opportunity to share Scripture from the Holy Bible and to pray during their lunch break. Unlike the Protestant worship service that has a sermon and music along with Scripture reading and prayer, Down the Hall will just have reading of The Bible and prayer in a venue on the other side of the 108th Wing. Capt, David Kahler, 108th Wing chaplain, will lead Down the Hall and welcomes anyone willing to respectfully observe and/or participate. Please contact your 108th Chaplain Corps for all your religious needs while in drill status.

6 Airmen of the Year Set High Bar for Excellence by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen, 108th Wing Public Affairs Master Sgt. Amanda L. Marotta, Tech. Sgt. John C. Hoffecker and Senior Airman Tyshawn G. Jenkins: What do they have in common? They were chosen as the 108th Wing s Airmen of the Year. Marotta serves with the 108th Civil Engineer Squadron as an emergency management specialist, while Hoffecker is a senior intelligence analyst with the 204th Intelligence Squadron and Jenkins works as a fuels systems technician with the 108th Maintenance Squadron. According to 108th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Paul E. Novello, Marotta is a motivational leader, who transformed an inexperienced Emergency Management Shop into a premiere flight that was lauded by the Air Mobility Command inspectors during the Unit Effectiveness Inspection where the Wing received a highly effective rating. In addition, she was handpicked as the Ancillary Training Tiger Team subject matter expert. Marotta also works with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst units to improve emergency management capabilities base-wide. Hoffecker, notes Lt. Col. Robert Kelly, the 204th Intelligence Squadron commander, was specifically chosen for a Title 10, active duty tour where he served as an intelligence instructor. During the tour, he trained 300 intelligence and security forces Airmen. He also served as the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 607th Air Operations Cell in Exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian in South Korea. Finally, Hoffecker was chosen to develop the National Guard Bureau's 20 lessons, which is a 40-hour anti-terrorism level II mobile training course. This course filled a national level need for force protection training certification for the Air National Guard. The Maintenance Squadron commander, Col. Steven F. Jamison, said that Jenkins is an outstanding role model for peers and demonstrated his organizational skills by creating new safety books for all shops assigned to the Wing s Accessory Section. He assists in the training of newly assigned personnel and in retraining personnel. Jenkins was part of a group that created an annual confined space training program that emphasized emergency procedures. In addition to these accomplishments, the Airmen embody the characteristics that define how the Air National Guard and specifically, the 108th is an integral part of the community. Hoffecker volunteers with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs support program by driving five veterans who have no means of transportation to their appointments at VA hospitals. Marotta was recognized during National Volunteer Week for dedicating more than 100 hours to the Salvation Army of Mercer County. Jenkins is a member of the Wing s Honor Guard, which serves as a visible example of the Air Force in ceremonies ranging from change of commands to funerals for veterans. They also represent what is unique to the Guard a dedication to education. Jenkins is working on his master of business administration degree. He currently has a 3.7 grade point average, all while at the same time passing the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test. Marotta not only earned a bachelor s in work force education, but also made the dean s list with a 4.0 GPA. She is currently working on her master s degree in homeland security. To top that off, she completed the senior non-commissioned officer correspondence course and was selected for the SNCO academy class. Hoffecker has four associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, the fourth being in intelligence studies. While attending the Defense Intelligence Agencies Counter Terrorism Analysis Course, he was the honor graduate. These three individuals have set an impressive benchmark. Congratulations Master Sgt. Marotta, Tech. Sgt. Hoffecker and Senior Airman Jenkins.

7 Lt. Col. Michael A. Baldi, far right, commander, 108th Wing Maintenance Squadron, administered the Oath of Enlistment to members of the 108th Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, at the re-enlistment ceremony at the Wing's headquarters at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Jan. 10, Left to right, Master Sgt. Phillip E. Hunt, Chief Master Sgt. Grieg J. Moore, Senior Airman John C. Pepe, Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Jenking, Senior Airman Danessa Duverce, Staff Sgts. Herbert L. Grant and Johnny C. Garry and Master Sgt. Matthew C. Scudder. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Junior Enlisted Advisory Council: Working for You! By Senior Airman Kellyann Novak, 108th Wing Public Affairs Are you a new Airman at the 108th Wing or one who has been in the unit for some time? If you are between the ranks of airman basic and technical sergeant, come join the 108th Wing's Junior Enlisted Advisory Council! The JEAC is a council of Airmen, who represent the junior enlisted force from each unit within the Wing. It is a great opportunity to get involved with the Wing and get your voices heard! Every Saturday during the monthly unit training assembly, the council meets at 1 p.m., in the conference room located in Building The council meetings act as a forum to communicate with the Wing commander and are a great place to discuss any problems Airmen may be facing, such as promotion issues, problems in personal lives that relate to military life, and anything else on the Airmen's minds. "We're here to try to solve all of our problems within those ranks at the lowest level possible," said Senior Airman Misti We re here to try to solve all of our problems within those ranks at the lowest level possible. JEAC president, Senior Airman Misti Klesser Klesser, JEAC president. In addition, during the meeting, fundraising activities are planned, social events, and ways to boost morale. As a newly promoted chief master sergeant, Chief Master Sgt. Michael Balas was tasked to represent the JEAC to the Chief's Council. Balas was the senior council president for 19 years and is filled with experience and knowledge useful to the younger Airmen. "Any of your issues you may be going through, I've probably been through way back when," said Balas. "I keep in (sic) track with what you all are going through because my son is a senior airman." Also, Balas urged the council members to bring other Airmen from each of their squadrons to the meetings. He also explained that it is highly encouraged for Airmen to become members of the Enlisted Association National Guard of New Jersey because they are the ones who support the enlisted members and help with retirement issues. Balas praised the JEAC when he stated that "more ideas and more activities get accomplished coming from this council because you are willing to go out with the energy that you have and fresh ideas to get things done." Some of the accomplishments in 2014 for the JEAC were a fundraiser for their new coin and shirts designed specifically for the 108th Wing JEAC. The council also raised $5,000 for the Angel Tree program which was donated to the Mount Holly Children's Home! This was made possible by the council members passing along the information to their squadrons and 108th members participating by giving donations. The opening of the Texas Ave gate also began with the JEAC, making access to the Wing more efficient for its members. Great things are in store for 2015 along with more social events! The leadership of the JEAC consists of Senior Airman Misty Klesser, president, Senior Airman Mohammad Siddiqui, vice president, Airman 1st Class Michael DeBonis, secretary, and Senior Airman Kellyann Novak, treasurer. We highly encourage new members to join the council, attend meetings, and participate in our social events. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Klesser at misti.klesser@ang.af.mil. For information about the Enlisted Association National Guard of New Jersey, please visit their website at

8 Staff Sgt. David Conner, front, and Airman 1st Class James Hess, Airmen from the 108th Maintenance Squadron, push a power cart unit to a KC- 135R Stratotanker Dec. 29, 2014, on the 108th Wing flightline at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. The cart is used to apply auxiliary power to the aircraft to ensure the engines accelerate at the right speed. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Airman 1st Class Julia Pyun/Released) I envy the bears. During these long winter months I long to curl up in a warm spot and sleep until the spring thaw. I am human though, and biology won t allow for endless sleep. I am wired with an internal clock that regulates an optimal sleep and wake cycle. Mostly, I envy the bears because of their immunity to modern life and the cultural pressures that are barriers to healthy sleep. Harvard University s Division of Sleep Medicine reports that the majority of healthy adults require between 7.5 and 8.5 hours of sleep per 24-hour period. This is true from young adulthood through old age, though many older people have difficulty sleeping in a single block of time each night. The amount of sleep that a healthy individual needs is largely determined by two factors: genetics and age. Genetics plays a role in both the amount of sleep a person needs, as well as his or her preference for waking up early or staying up late. According to the National Sleep Foundation s 2008 Sleep in America poll, many adults are sleeping on average only six hours and 40 minutes per night during the week. At a minimum, that s almost one hour less than is required for good health. Do you find that you only sleep six hours per night? Do you sleep less than that? When we don't get adequate sleep, we accumulate a sleep debt Catching Zs By Jill Barrett, 108th Wing, Director of Psychological Health that can be difficult to "pay back" if it becomes too big. The resulting sleep deprivation has been linked to health problems such as obesity and high blood pressure, negative mood and behavior, decreased productivity, and safety issues in the home, on the job, and on the road. Sleep patterns and needs are not the same for everyone but they should fall between the 7.5 to 8.5 hours on average. And this is where modern life can be a barrier to our health. Making sleep a priority can be challenging with all the pressures we feel to accomplish and manage things. If you would like to learn more about getting a healthy night s sleep and when to seek help for a possible sleep disorder, stop by the Psychological Health Lunch and Learn this weekend from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday in the Avionics Conference Room located in building You can also visit my office or search Sleep.org for videos, essays and interactive features on why sleep matters and how to get it. Sleep is the interest we have to pay on the capital which is called in at death; and the higher the rate of interest and the more regularly it is paid, the further the date of redemption is postponed, ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

9 Master Sgt. Elizabeth Stefanoni Time in service: 34 years Job with 108th Wing: Budget Analyst at 108th Maintenance Group Civilian job: Full time Technician for 108th MXG Favorite food: Pasta Favorite movie/movie last seen: Frozen Favorite actor/actress: Julia Roberts Favorite TV show: Modern Family Favorite music genre/artist: All music Favorite sport: All the sports her daughter plays: basketball, field hockey, and track and field Favorite book: The Bible What I do in my spare time/hobbies: Spend time with my family My Hero: My father. He raised eight kids while being in the Army and set a great example. Dream vacation: Hawaii Dream car: One that works! Goals for the future: Finish my education and enjoy my retirement with my family What I like most about the 108th: It feels like family. I like that when the going gets tough, we can come together to accomplish the mission. If I was CC for a day: I would go out and say hi to all the sections I am in charge of. I would get to know the people better and see what I can do to help them. Pre-Season Motorcycle Safety Training By the 108th Wing Safety Pffice Fellow riders, as most of us know, there is no such thing as "riding season." With warmer weather right around the corner, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst safety office is beginning to offer several safety events. Mandatory annual motorcycle safety briefings will be offered at Timmerman Center on Feb and March 5-6 starting at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day. No need to sign up, just show up. In addition, every rider is required to have a one-time documented commander's brief on file with the 108 Wing Safety Office. All riders must also accomplish a riding safety course, which are conducted at Lakehurst Naval Air Station and are free of charge. The only catch is the seats are limited. You can schedule your training at the following website: If you have any questions, feel free to contact your 108 Wing Safety Office at Photo by Airman 1st Class Julia Pyun

10 What are your plans for Valentine s Day? Photos by Staff Sgt. Jacquelyn Vasvari-Toke, 108th Wing Public Affairs Just spending some quality time with the people that I love. Staff Sgt. Chris Birardi, 108th Communications Flight Maybe a small gift like a box of chocolates and just staying at home snuggled up on the couch watching a movie. Senior Airman Paula Daniels, 108th Services Flight Just a quiet night out with my wife going to Seasons 52 and having some quality time without the baby. Tech. Sgt. Justin Fletcher, 108th Maintenance A night in with homemade meatballs, linguine, carrot cake and a nice bottle of wine. 1st Lt. Nathan Gorey, 108th Civil Engineering Squadron A nice home-cooked dinner. Staff Sgt. Gabriela Harris, 108th Services Flight Spending it with my wife of 24 years at Seneca Lake up in New York. Tech. Sgt. Raymond Kauffman, 108th Maintenance Staying at home and watching a movie on Netflix. Airman 1st Class Julia Pyun, 108th Wing Public Affairs To see a broadway show and go out to a nice dinner. Staff Sgt. Sally Pizzo, 108th Mission Support Group

11 A Newish Conundrum By Tech. Sgt. Carl Clegg, 108th Wing Public Affairs As a child, who would occasionally accompany my mom to the grocery store, I was awe-struck when I learned that every item, from the disgusting can of peas to the culinary wizardry of peanut butter Captain Crunch cereal, had its very own unique bar code or UPC (Universal Product Code). I didn t have time to concern myself with such trivial things as paper or plastic; I was much too engrossed in the science of how a little laser-like beam could know the difference between a regular Hershey s bar and one the size of a small dog, just by reading their seemingly identical bar codes. Today, nothing has changed. I still think peas are disgusting It is impossible to navigate through life today without seeing QR codes everywhere. They are inescapable, almost like death and taxes in Franklin s famous quip. Like monsters under the bed, advertisers are out to get you, but do not be alarmed. QR codes can be a convenience too. Say you are in a waiting room reading a magazine article and you get called in to see the doctor; what do you do if you really wanted to finish reading the article you started? You can quickly scan the magazine s QR code with your smartphone and read the article on the go. You can even scan the QR code on the front of this month s Wing Tips and read it on your and bar codes still fascinate me. However, from the same confusing cauldron emerges a newish conundrum called a QR code. The quick story on Quick Reaction Codes, thank you Wikipedia, is that they originated in the Japanese automotive industry in 1994 and can store volumes more information than a traditional bar code. The QR codes are easily readable with a camera phone thanks to both vertical and horizontal patterns that employ encoding modes to store data such as: numeric, alphanumeric, byte / binary, and kanji, the Japanese word for certain Japanese letters. smartphone when your first sergeant isn t looking. Wing Tips editors are trying out the use of QR codes to enhance the readership of our publication and for one reason: YOU. You, the Airmen of the 108th Wing do amazing work and it is our job to make sure that your work gets noticed. QR codes will help us get a few more eyeballs on a story about you or one of your fellow Airmen doing a remarkable job. If you have any suggestions on ways to enhance the readership of Wing Tips, please contact us and share your thoughts. If it s interesting, we re interested. Call PA at Welcome to the Future This funded Air Force newsletter is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of Wing Tips are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force. The editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office of the 108th Wing, 3327 Charles Blvd., Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. All photographs are U.S. Air Force photographs, unless otherwise indicated Wing Tips Staff Col. Robert A. Meyer Jr. - Commander, 108th Wing Maj. April B. Doolittle - Public Affairs Officer Mr. Raymond Knox - Public Affairs Superintendent Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen - NCOIC, Photojournalist Tech. Sgt. Carl Clegg - Videojournalist Tech. Sgt. Armando Vasquez - Photojournalist Staff Sgt. Brian Carson - Photojournalist Staff Sgt. Jacquelyn E.Vasvari-Toke - Photojournalist Senior Airman Kellyann Novak - Photojournalist Airman 1st Class Julia Pyun - Photojournalist

12 Join us on this Sunday Feb 08, 2015 with Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Vincent E. Stokes, Sr. as we remember and reflect, 100 Years of History, Culture, Progress & Pride. Starting at 11:00 am Bldg CE Classroom POC: MSgt Schexnayder (x4141) and MSgt Williamson (x2496) For generations, the story of American progress has been shaped by the inextinguishable beliefs that change is always possible and a brighter future lies ahead. With tremendous strength and abiding resolve, our ancestors -- some of whom were brought to this land in chains -- have woven their resilient dignity into the fabric of our Nation and taught us that we are not trapped by the mistakes of history. It was these truths that found expression as foot soldiers and Freedom Riders sat in and stood up, marched and agitated for justice and equality. This audacious movement gave birth to a new era of civil and voting rights, and slowly, we renewed our commitment to an ideal at the heart of our founding: no matter who you are, what you look like, how modest your beginnings, or the circumstances of your birth, you deserve every opportunity to achieve your God-given potential. As we mark National African American History Month, we celebrate giants of the civil rights movement and countless other men and women whose names are etched in the hearts of their loved ones and the cornerstones of the country they helped to change. We pause to reflect on our progress and our history -- not only to remember, but also to acknowledge our unfinished work. We reject the false notion that our challenges lie only in the past, and we recommit to advancing what has been left undone. Brave Americans did not struggle and sacrifice to secure fundamental rights for themselves and others only to see those rights denied to their children and grandchildren. Our Nation is still racked with division and poverty. Too many children live in crumbling neighborhoods, cycling through substandard schools and being affected by daily violence in their communities. And Americans of all races have seen their wages and incomes stagnate while inequality continues to hold back hardworking families and entire communities. But the trajectory of our history gives us hope. Today, we stand on the shoulders of courageous individuals who endured the thumps of billy clubs, the blasts of fire hoses, and the pain of watching dreams be deferred and denied. We honor them by investing in those around us and doing all we can to ensure every American can reach their full potential. Our country is at its best when everyone is treated fairly and has the chance to build the future they seek for themselves and their family. This means providing the opportunity for every person in America to access a world-class education, safe and affordable housing, and the job training that will prepare them for the careers of tomorrow. Like the countless, quiet heroes who worked and bled far from the public eye, we know that with enough effort, empathy, and perseverance, people who love their country can change it. Together, we can help our Nation live up to its immense promise. This month, let us continue that unending journey toward a more just, more equal, and more perfect Union. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2015 as National African American History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-ninth. BARACK OBAMA